. >> this defense comes as the white house announces new sanctions against russia. let's talk about this with peter for the national journal and nile with margaret thatcher center for freedom. peter, let me start with you. does refraining from using force and not even having it on the table make the united states look weak to other powers? >> no. first of all, the united states does have it on the table in certain circumstances. but i think obama's context is very important. obama took power after the bush administration had launched two disastrous wars that have cost the united states terribly in money and blood, leaving a situation in the united states where the american people and the american military are very drained of military -- very, very drained from those very, very expensive endeavors. obama's force is entirely appropriate. in ukraine, nobody is even suggesting military force. >> i think that is one of the questions, niles, which is nobody is proposing boots on the ground but republicans are requesting more aggressive aid, lethal aid to the ukrainians. i